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Ed. note: This case study is a selection from the
2012 “Justified”
competition, in which an esteemed jury
identified submissions that demonstrate the value of design in a clear,
compelling and accessible way. It serves as an example of how to explain design
thinking to clients, students, peers and the public in general, based on
specific metrics.
We all make stuff. But today our tools today are backwards. The top creative
tools out there today focus us on how we say things when what we say is
really what’s most important. We have plenty of tools that make what we
do look better. Why aren’t there tools that make our ideas better? Our
challenge was to build a mobile platform that would revolutionize the
creative process.
Budget
Minimal
Research
appFigures plus our own internal app analytics
Challenges
With literally hundreds of drawing and note-taking apps already out
there, how do we define a new space for us? How do you design a totally
unique experience for productivity, built from the ground up for mobile
and touch-based interaction?
Strategy
Paper is where ideas begin. It’s the easiest and most beautiful way to
create on the new iPad. Capture your ideas as sketches, diagrams,
illustrations, notes or drawings and instantly share them across the
web.
Retina Resolution: Built for the new iPad’s brilliant display. With a
full 2048 x 1536 canvas, see stunning details in your creations you
couldn’t before—like pencil texture and watercolor edge bleed.
Expressive Ink Engine: Our custom ink engine reacts to your movements to
optimize each tool for the process of creation. Get a range of
expressions from a single tool—without fussing with settings—for great
handwriting, beautiful coloring and sketching that just works.
Rewind™: We love mistakes. Use two fingers to Rewind to any previous
point in time without leaving the flow.
At Last, Mobile Creation Done Right: Paper was designed from the ground
up for touch and creating on the go. It keeps you in the flow with no
fussy buttons, settings or other distractions. Paper works the way you
think, like a familiar notebook or journal. Have all of your ideas with
you in one place.
Powerhouse Graphics: Built with the powerful OpenGL framework, Paper is
the first productivity tool to match the rich, immersive world of games,
with realtime 3-D and shadows—all with incredible speed.
Keep Moving Forward: Our custom gesture-based interface keeps you in the
creative flow. No folders, buttons or menus. Just tap to open, and pinch
to close.
Make it Yours: Choose your own images to customize journal covers.
Effectiveness
On launch day, Paper became the number one top-selling iPad app. Within two
weeks, Paper was downloaded 1.5 million times, with 7 million pages
created—that’s enough paper to stretch 1,215 miles or stack up to 3,500
feet.
“Just handed in a client presentation with nothing but sketches done on
the #paper app @FiftyThree #awesome”—Brian Everett
“Paper by @FiftyThree is hands down the most practical app I've ever
experienced. Best app ever…”—@armanddicaire
“Rediscovered my love for art/design today. So easy a 4yr old could use
it (& she just has).”—Iain McDougall
“Paper is the first app for iPad I’ve seen that makes your handwriting
look like it actually came from an adult. Well done
@fiftythree”—@nerddotis
“Paper by FiftyThree is one of the best free apps you could ever
download for your iPad—Yes, it’s that good”—AppAdvice
“I'm not even a member of the team at @FiftyThree, yet it’s inspiring to
see all the #MadeWithPaper art popping up”—Ellis Hamburger
Paul Miller, “Paper is like Instagram for drawing,” The Verge
Matthew Panzarino, “Ex-Microsoft Courier team’s drawing app Paper hits 1.5M downloads, 7M pages created in 2 weeks,” The Next Web
Additional project information
http://vimeo.com/fiftythree/hellopaper
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